Do Cool Sh*t

Picture this: You're twenty-six years old, working hundred-hour weeks at an investment bank, and your stomach is killing you after every meal. For most people, this would be just another complaint about modern life. But for Miki Agrawal, it became the spark that would transform her from a burned-out Wall Street analyst into a successful restaurateur and serial entrepreneur. Her journey from corporate misery to entrepreneurial freedom isn't just inspiring—it's a masterclass in turning personal pain points into business opportunities.

The modern career landscape has left millions feeling trapped in jobs that drain their souls while their dreams collect dust. Statistics show that over 70% of workers are disengaged at work, yet most remain paralyzed by fear, convinced that entrepreneurship is only for the naturally gifted or well-connected. This book shatters that myth through raw, honest storytelling that reveals how ordinary people can create extraordinary businesses. You'll discover how to identify market opportunities hiding in plain sight, build genuine relationships that fuel business growth, and maintain your sanity while pursuing your passion. Most importantly, you'll learn that the biggest risk isn't starting your own venture—it's staying stuck in someone else's dream.

Miki's entrepreneurial awakening began with a seemingly mundane problem: recurring stomach pain that left her doubled over after meals. After years of discomfort, she finally connected the dots—she was lactose intolerant, reacting to the hormones and additives pumped into American dairy products. A trip to rural France confirmed her suspicions when she ate local cheese without any issues. The difference was stark: French farmers used natural, hormone-free methods while American producers prioritized quantity over quality.

This personal revelation transformed into market research when Miki discovered that one in five Americans suffers from lactose intolerance, yet the pizza industry—a $32 billion market—completely ignored this massive customer base. She realized millions of people were avoiding their favorite comfort food simply because no one had created a healthy alternative. The gap in the market was glaring, but it took personal pain to make her see it. Her stomach issues weren't just a medical problem—they were a business opportunity disguised as discomfort.

The key insight here is that your biggest frustrations often point toward your biggest opportunities. Most successful businesses aren't born from brilliant flashes of inspiration, but from founders who got fed up with accepting the status quo. When something consistently bothers you, instead of just complaining, start investigating. Ask yourself: How many other people share this problem? What would a solution look like? The best business ideas often hide in plain sight, waiting for someone to stop accepting inconvenience as inevitable.

Your personal pain points are market research in disguise. They represent authentic problems that you understand viscerally, giving you insights that detached market analysis could never provide. When you've lived with a problem, you know its nuances, its impact, and most importantly, what a real solution would need to accomplish.

When Miki needed to raise $250,000 for her restaurant, she initially followed traditional fundraising advice—formal one-on-one meetings with potential investors in sterile conference rooms. The results were disastrous. Her natural energy and enthusiasm couldn't shine through in these uncomfortable settings, and investor after investor passed on her idea. After months of rejection, she realized she was playing the wrong game entirely.

Drawing inspiration from her family's cultural gatherings, Miki completely reimagined fundraising as community building. Instead of pitching individuals, she hosted intimate dinner parties where potential investors could experience her food, meet like-minded entrepreneurs, and feel the excitement of being part of something special. She hired a chef to prepare her healthy pizzas, secured a cool venue, and even got Food Network cameras to document the journey. The atmosphere was electric—people weren't just evaluating an investment opportunity, they were joining a movement.

The transformation was remarkable. In these warm, engaging settings, Miki's authentic self emerged. Investors could taste the product, feel the passion, and witness firsthand the market demand as guests raved about the food. More importantly, group dynamics worked in her favor—when one person showed enthusiasm, others followed. Within months, she had raised her full target amount, not through cold pitches but through genuine connections.

This approach revolutionizes how we think about business relationships. Instead of treating fundraising as a series of transactions, treat it as community building. People invest in people they like and trust, and trust is built through shared experiences, not PowerPoint presentations. When you create environments where your authentic self can shine, you naturally attract the right partners and investors.

The lesson extends far beyond fundraising to all business development. Whether you're seeking customers, partners, or employees, focus on creating meaningful connections rather than making pitches. Authenticity and enthusiasm are your greatest assets—create situations where they can flourish.

Opening day at Miki's pizza restaurant was supposed to be a quiet soft launch—a chance to work out the kinks with friends and family before the real customers arrived. Instead, a Daily Candy article brought fifty customers to her door before she was ready. With undertrained staff, limited ingredients, and an inefficient kitchen layout, the day became a nightmare. Orders backed up for over an hour, customers demanded refunds, and angry voices promised never to return.

The phone calls were brutal. One customer screamed that they would tell everyone they knew to avoid the restaurant. As Miki watched her dream crumble on day one, she faced a crushing realization: timing in business isn't just important—it can make or break everything you've worked for. Her mistake wasn't in the concept or execution, but in rushing to capitalize on press coverage before her operation was truly ready.

But Miki refused to accept defeat. She spent the following weeks implementing a comeback strategy that required both humility and hustle. She hand-delivered personalized apology letters to every apartment in the neighborhood, offering free slices to give people a second chance to experience her food properly. She set up tastings at local gyms, playgrounds, and office buildings, meeting potential customers where they were and proving that her restaurant had improved.

The turnaround worked, but it came with hard-earned wisdom about the importance of proper partnerships. Miki's initial managers lacked experience and problem-solving skills, leaving her to handle crises remotely while trying to grow the business. She learned that hiring slow and firing fast isn't just good advice—it's survival strategy. The wrong partner can undo months of progress in a single day, while the right one multiplies your capabilities exponentially.

Business partnerships are like marriages—they require complementary skills, shared values, and unwavering commitment to mutual success. Don't hire based on enthusiasm alone; demand relevant experience and a track record of handling pressure. Most importantly, never compromise on character, because when things get tough, character is all that matters.

Beyond personal profit, Miki recognized an opportunity to tackle a growing crisis—childhood obesity and poor nutrition habits. At her restaurant, she watched kids consistently order plain cheese pizza while avoiding any vegetables. Parents struggled to encourage healthy eating, and traditional approaches weren't working. This observation sparked an idea that would evolve into something much larger than a side project.

Working with her twin sister Radha, Miki developed the Super Sprowtz—a cast of superhero vegetable characters designed to make healthy eating exciting for children. Instead of lecturing kids about nutrition, they created stories where carrots gave super sight, broccoli provided incredible strength, and every vegetable had special powers. The approach was deceptively simple but psychologically brilliant—it transformed vegetables from boring obligations into sources of superpowers.

The results were immediate and remarkable. Children who had never voluntarily eaten vegetables began requesting broccoli on their pizzas because they wanted to be strong like Brian Broccoli. Parents watched in amazement as their kids enthusiastically consumed foods they had previously rejected. What started as menu illustrations evolved into published books, live puppet shows, and educational content reaching hundreds of thousands of children.

This dual approach—building a profitable business while solving social problems—represents the future of entrepreneurship. Customers increasingly want to support companies that align with their values, and employees want meaningful work that contributes to something bigger than shareholder returns. The most successful modern businesses don't just make money; they make a difference.

Social impact isn't an add-on to business success—it's a multiplier. When your work contributes to solving real problems, you attract better employees, more loyal customers, and deeper investor commitment. Purpose-driven businesses also enjoy greater resilience during tough times because they're anchored by mission, not just profit margins.

At Burning Man, surrounded by art installations in the Nevada desert, Miki experienced a transformation that changed how she approached both business and relationships. Watching her friend Andrew confidently strut down a runway in a pharaoh costume, she suddenly saw him differently—not as the shy nonprofit founder she'd known for months, but as someone radiating confidence and joy. That moment of authentic self-expression became the foundation of their love story and a powerful lesson about the importance of being genuine.

Their relationship developed around four principles they called LACE: Looks (undeniable attraction), Adventure (bringing new experiences to each other), Challenge (pushing each other to grow), and Enhance (making each other's experiences richer). These weren't just romantic ideals but business principles in disguise. The most successful professional relationships—with partners, employees, and customers—thrive when they incorporate these same elements.

The festival environment stripped away pretense and social expectations, allowing people to express their truest selves. This authenticity created deeper connections in days than most people form in years of conventional interaction. Miki realized that business success comes not from perfecting a professional mask, but from finding environments where your authentic self can flourish and attract the right opportunities and partnerships.

The lesson extends beyond personal relationships to all aspects of entrepreneurship. Customers connect with authentic brands, investors back passionate founders, and employees commit to leaders who are genuinely themselves. The energy you put into maintaining a false professional persona would be better invested in creating situations where your natural strengths and enthusiasm can shine through.

Stop trying to be what you think successful people should be, and start being who you actually are. Authenticity isn't just more comfortable—it's more effective. When you operate from a place of genuine passion and values, you naturally attract the people and opportunities that align with your vision, creating sustainable success built on solid foundations rather than exhausting performance.

The ultimate takeaway from this entrepreneurial journey is beautifully simple: your biggest problems are often your biggest opportunities, and your authentic self is your greatest business asset. Success comes not from avoiding discomfort or conforming to expectations, but from leaning into what frustrates you and building solutions that reflect your true values and passions.

Start by identifying what consistently bothers you in your daily life—these pain points represent market gaps waiting for solutions. Build genuine relationships rather than networks, focusing on creating mutual value and shared experiences. Most importantly, stop waiting for permission to pursue your dreams. The perfect moment will never come, but the right moment is always now. Take one concrete step today toward the business or life change you've been contemplating, remembering that massive transformations begin with small, authentic actions.